

THE CAT TRIBE. 213 



in troops, but live in separate pairs, each pair occupying a 

 solitary den, usually concealed in the depths of the forest. 

 Thence, when pressed by hunger, they issue forth in search of 

 their prey, which they rarely attack with open force j but 

 stealing on it with noiseless tread, or stationing themselves in 

 ambush in such situations as appear suitable to their purpose, 

 watch with indefatigable patience the approach of their victim. 

 Incapable of long- continued speed, their usual gait is slow, 

 cautious, and stealthy, with their posterior limbs bent beneath 

 them, and their ears distended to catch the slightest noise. 

 Guided by these organs, the internal structure of which is 

 highly developed, they trace the sound of footsteps at an almost 

 incredible distance, and direct themselves towards their prey 

 with unerring certainty. In this quest the sense of smell, which 

 they possess in a very low degree, affords them but little 

 assistance -, their sight, however, is good, and serves them well 

 both by day and night, their extremely dilatable pupils adapting 

 themselves with admirable precision to various intensities of 

 light. To this object the frequently elongated form of their 

 pupils, the generally yellow colour of the internal or choroid 

 coat of their eyes, and the extent of their nictitating membranes, 

 must also essentially contribute. No sooner is the object of 

 their pursuit within reach of their attack, than suddenly 

 bursting forth from their lurking-place, or changing their 

 slow and stealthy pace for a furious and overwhelming bound, 

 they dart with the velocity of lightning upon their terrified 

 victim. The great strength and extreme flexibility of their 

 fore-paws enable them at once to dash him to the earth, and 

 to seize him with irresistible grasp. They then proceed to 

 rend him in pieces by the united efforts of their teeth and 

 claws, and gorge themselves upon his lacerated flesh. It is 

 only when fearful of being disturbed in their operations, that 

 they carry off the body from the spot where it has fallen -, and 

 even in such cases they never transfer it to their dens, but seek 

 out some solitary place in which to glut their ravenous cravings. 

 When satiated they quit the carcase, to which they never 



